The Gift of Giving on Res

The spirit of charity is alive this holiday season at Burwood Student Residences (BSR). Our residents have dug deep to deliver a little Christmas cheer to families and individuals who may be struggling to support themselves during these trying times.

We’ve collected an impressive number of gift and food donations to share with the Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal in 2022 and bolster their noble cause.

Last Christmas the Salvation Army provided around over 64,000 hampers as well as 26,000 gifts to individuals and families in need. This is a massive contribution to those who are dealing with the current cost-of-living crisis.

For many of us, it’s hard to imagine a Christmas without ample food, presents, or a Christmas tree. However, this is the reality some people face at a time of year that should be filled with joy.

Between September 2021-2022, inflation in Australia has risen by 7.3% according to the consumer price index, while wages have only risen by 3.1% over the same period. This discrepancy is sure to put a strain on those already tackling tight bottom lines. That’s why it’s more important than ever that those of us who can share with others do so.

A big thank you to those who made time to donate, your contributions will make a huge difference to an often-hidden demographic of our society. Giving back to the community is very much in line with our RESPECT values of responsiveness and connectedness and it has been encouraging to see how many people have gotten behind the initiative.

Staff at the Salvation Army centre in Camberwell were excited to receive the donations and promise that each item will be well-used, either as a donation during the Christmas drive or given charitably throughout the year. They have also kindly offered that any residents who are experiencing difficulties themselves can reach out through their Emergency Relief initiative at any time for a hot meal if they need it.

In terms of further benefiting our residents, being generous is proven to boost your sense of wellbeing. As Deakin Associate Professor Patrick Stokes writes in his article The power of generosity: why giving is good for you,

You can actually get some benefit from doing something for someone else – it gives you a sense of purpose and wellbeing.

Reflecting on this initiative, Burwood Residential Leader Emily Clark said,

Having Deakin Res participate in the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal is great, as it provides an outlet for our ressies to help others in the community who may be less fortunate than we are, in a way that is accessible to everyone willing or wanting to help but may not have the means of being able to do so otherwise. Our involvement helps to promote a sense of connection and support to not just each other, but also to the wider community.

Burwood General Manager, James Hawley, agrees, saying,

It's fantastic to see residents and staff come together for the Salvo's Christmas Appeal. We have a hugely diverse cohort here at DRS and it’s wonderful that people from all backgrounds and cultures are contributing to this wonderful campaign.

It seems all staff and students at BSR have been proud to take part in the gift of giving this year. Happy holidays to all and our thoughts are with those living with less.

If you’d like to donate to the Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal you can do so via the Salvation Army website.